Blower Door Test in Bala Cynwyd, PA

Improve insulation performance and meet energy code requirements through thorough blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA. Our qualified technicians assist homeowners, builders, and contractors in detecting air leaks, optimizing comfort, and maintaining compliance with PA energy codes.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test evaluates air changes per hour, showing how often indoor air is replaced by fresh outdoor air — a process essential for healthy living spaces. Too many air exchanges make heating and cooling systems work harder, increasing energy consumption and lowering efficiency. Excessive air leakage can cause drafts, reduce comfort, and contribute to issues like condensation, moisture, and mold inside the home. A blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA detects early-stage air leaks, enabling effective energy use and a more durable, comfortable living environment.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

To perform blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA, all exterior doors and windows are tightly sealed, while interior doors remain open to promote balanced airflow throughout the home. Technicians install a fabric panel and adjustable aluminum frame into one central exterior door opening. Once the frame is in place, a calibrated fan is used to bring the home’s pressure down to 50 Pascals — about the same as a 20 mph wind on the structure.

As the fan removes air from inside, exterior air flows in through leaks and gaps in the building envelope. A sensitive device called a nanometer measures how the fan’s pressure relates to the home’s internal air pressure. These measurements are used to calculate air changes per hour (ACH), which reflects the home’s airtightness and performance under PA weather.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

In Bala Cynwyd, PA, new construction typically follows the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or an updated edition implemented by local codes. A result of 3 air changes per hour or less is generally required in most areas to confirm the home’s energy efficiency. Reaching this target in your blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA helps maintain lower energy bills and fulfills local code obligations.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

The State of PA, together with many cities and counties, enforces the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code), which calls for blower door test on new or renovated residential properties. We specialize in helping home builders, contractors, and homeowners with blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA to achieve energy code compliance and finalize inspections. A duct leakage test could be required when air ducts or HVAC units extend outside the structure’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

A blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA helps homeowners discover inefficiencies. Depressurizing the home makes leaks more noticeable and highlights where energy can be conserved. A blower door test, typically lasting only a few hours, offers a long-lasting impact on your home’s performance, efficiency, and comfort across PA’ seasons.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Apply an effective air barrier such as Tyvek or Zip Sheathing, ensuring every seam is tightly sealed with proper tape.
  • Use insulation featuring the proper R-value and verify complete, gap-free coverage across the building envelope.
  • Seal all penetrations in exterior walls using caulk or spray foam.
  • Ensure doors and windows are properly installed, caulked, and weather-sealed.
  • Close gaps and penetrations between conditioned zones and unconditioned sections like attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
  • Many local municipalities issue code compliance checklists — the Philadelphia example is available here.
  • Local Energy Audits brings thermal cameras, caulk, and spray foam to locate and seal leaks while performing on-site testing./li>
  • Over 90% of the time, we achieve a passing score in under two hours and provide all required documentation to finalize the building permit.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Bala Cynwyd, PA

To properly prepare for blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA, the HVAC system and all bathroom and kitchen fans are turned off. We follow with a quick walkthrough to ensure all exterior doors and windows are fully closed — including those that connect to garages, basements, or any part outside the thermal envelope. After sealing the home, the blower door fan is installed in a central exterior doorway and used to lower pressure to 50 Pascals to measure airflow and leakage effectively. When depressurization is complete, outside air flows in swiftly, allowing easy detection of leakage spots. By using a thermal imager, we can spot temperature variations in walls, ceilings, and other surfaces that indicate leaks into unconditioned areas. We carry chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping so our team can work alongside homeowners or contractors to seal visible air leakage spots right away. Once leaks are addressed, we perform another test to confirm the desired blower door score and verify compliance with local efficiency regulations in Bala Cynwyd, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Bala Cynwyd, PA

During blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA, contractors will find that well-insulated homes can manage minor issues directly on-site. Using professional-grade materials like chalk and spray foam, we seal small leaks or gaps as soon as they’re detected. In over 90% of cases, our technicians achieve a passing blower door test score within just two hours and supply all necessary documentation to finalize the building permit efficiently.

Schedule Your blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA

Count on our team for fast, professional, and certified blower door test in Bala Cynwyd, PA with dependable results. Whether you’re enhancing comfort at home or wrapping up a construction project, we perform every test with accuracy and full compliance with energy codes.